Shower enclosures



March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN SHOWER ENCLOSURES Z5 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJan. 7, 1965 INVENTOR ATTORNEY;

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March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN SHOWER ENCLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 7, 1965 ATTORNEY? March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN 3,310,914

SHOWER ENCLOSURES Filed Jan. 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

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INVENTOR VV/LL/AM E' OEA/AVON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M3,310,914 SHOWER ENCLSURES William F. De Klavon, Miami, Fla., assignorto Nash Aluminum Products Co., Inc., Hialeah, Fla., a corporation ofFlorida Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 424,010 3 Claims. (Cl. 49-408) Thisinvention relates to improvements in shower er1- closures.

Conventional sliding door types of enclosures for shower baths includegutters or elongated grooves on the sill for slidably receiving thesliding doors. Such gutters provide a means for the accumulation ofdirt, fungus, germs and standing water. In some cases the uprights ofthe doors and the jambs are further complicated by interitting partswhich are difficult to clean, It is a purpose of the present inventionto provide a shower door assembly which includes a frame structurehaving gutterless sill and jambs and guide means for the sliding doorsso that the frame, doors and the guide means may be cleaned with verylittle wiping eifort.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shower bathclosure assemblage including a frame and sliding doors, the frame beingconstructed without elongated sill gutters and which includes jamblportions for receiving the doors in surface contact only; the sillbeing sloped to direct the water from the doors during showering intothe tub without the possibility of bodies of water collecting on thesill in gutters.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shower bathclosure assemblage of the sliding door type including guide means forsupporting the sliding doors; said guide means including elements whichare very small in size and may readily be cleaned with practically noeffort except wiping.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a sliding doortype of shower bath assemblage including a frame and sliding doors soconstructed so as to provide natural drainage from the doors and framewithout accumulation of standing water after showering, and in thisrespect the sill assemblage of the frame having free total drainage ofwater into the tub.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detail description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthrough the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the improved sliding door type bathtubassemblage.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken throughthe assemblage substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken throughthe assemblage substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a door guide which is very small insize and preferably constructed of synthetic resin such as nylon ordacron, to permit substantially frictionless and facile door guiding.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section taken at thejambs and looking downward upon the sill structure of the assembly frameand more particularly showing the jamb and guides.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken transversely throughthe improved sill of the frame assemblage.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken transversely throughan improved jamb or upright of the frame structure.

3,31%,914 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 ICC FIGURE 8 is a fragmentaryperspective view, partly in section, of the jamb and sill structure atIthe open inside face of the frame and showing gravity water drainagecharacteristics of the sill and jamb.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a modifiedform of sill differing slightly in the supporting means of the sillshown in FIG. 6, but being sloped and provided with a gutterless mainbody.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view taken through the modified form ofjamb differing slightly over the jamb shown in FIG. 7.

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the cornerportions of the door rails and uprights lare connected.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown theessential features of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the assemblage which may comprise a frame structure B, doors Cand door guides D.

The frame structure B comprises a sill 15; upright jambs 17 and a tophorizontal header or rail structure 18.

The parts of the frame D and doors C are preferably constructed ofextruded aluminum which in the finished article may be polished andanodized and otherwise decorated.

It is to be understood that the closure assemblage may be providedeither as an adjunct to a shower type tub or solely to a shower setupand in this respect the sill is either applied to the top Wall of thefront of the tub or to the base structure of the shower.

Further referring to the frame structure B, the sill 15 may be of thetypes shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 of the invention. The form shown in FIG. 6preferably comprises a gutterless generally at main body 20 which mayhave an outer supporting leg 21; an inner supporting leg structure 22 ofa type which may provide a recess 23 for caulking, and it may alsoinclude an intermediate supporting leg 23. 'Ihe supports 21, 22 and 23may run the full length of the sill and are of such relative height aslto support the sill 20 in a sloping position. That is, the top surface25 slopes downwardly to the inner edge 26 of the sill for free gravitydrainage of water. At the outer margin of the sill main body 20 there isprovided an upstanding water shield flange 27 which prevents splashingof water outside of the sill. This sill may be secured by anyappropriate screws (not shown) to the tub structure 30 or the floorstructure in case the assemblage is entirely used for a shower bathwithout tub. The bolts or screws for securing the guides D in place mayalso be used for securing the sill in place upon the tub wall 30 or baseflooring.

In the form of sill shown in FIG. v9 the flat drain plate 20a may beprovided with supporting leg structures 22a at the down side thereof; aleg structure 21a being at the opposite end of the main body 20a and anintermediate supporting leg 23a may be provided which may have a recess23b for caulking. The Water shield flange 27a is located in alignmentand in the same plane with the leg 21a and the outer surfacing of leg21a and water shield ange 27a may be corrugated in undulating manner asshown at 31 for decoration purposes; the corrugation grooves -being veryminute in depth and not capable of retaining water or dirt deposits.

Jambs 17, several examples of which are shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, includefor the jarrrb of FIG. 7, a main body plate 33 having an outer leg 35 atthe inner side thereof and at the outer side thereof having a mountingleg 36 provided with a caulking receiving recess 37 therein. Anintermediate leg 38 may `be provided between the legs 35 and 36. Thelegs 35, 36 and 38 are of the u same length in order that the plate 33ylies parallel to the wall to which attached. At its outer marginal edgejamb 17 is provided with a water shield flange 40 of desired width,preferably lying in the same plane with the leg 35. `Otherwise theexposed surfacing 41 of the body plate 33 is unobstructed and free ofany flanges, gutters, etc.

The jambs 17 at their lower ends rest upon the sill plate 20, being cutto conform thereto; the width of the jambs being such that the watershield flange will lie at the inside of the sill shield flange 27, towhich it may be attached, as shown at 44, yby means of screws, bolts, orin any other manner. The jambs 17 are secured through the plate 33 byscrews, bolts or other securing means to the building structure so as toprovide an entirely exposed outer jamb surface of the plate 33 from theange 40 to the opposite leg 36 thereof.

In the form of jamb 17a shown in FIG. l0, legs 35a, 38a and 36EL lmay beprovided of the same design or closely thereto as the legs 35, 38 and 36of the form of invention shown in FIG. 7. For purposes of decoration thewater shield flange 49a and the leg 35a may be provided with shallowundulating corr-ugations 31a and also the jamb plate 332L may havesimilar undulating corrugations 33h; these being provided merely forpurposes of decoration and not forming gutters of a type in which wateror dirt will collect.

The frame header 1S is U-shaped in cross section as shown in FIG. 2,including a top wall 50- and outer and inner side walls 51 and 52 atright angled relation therewith defining a channel 53 adapted to receivethe upper ends of the jambs 17 therein. The walls 51 and 52 are providedwith roller tracks 55 of conventional nat-ure, upon which the doorrollers are adapted to travel. The header 18 may be attached to thejambs 17 but are prefera- `bly attached to the ceiling or otherstructure in order that the header may conform to the proper height ofthe structure in which the assembly is mounted.

Referring to the doors C, each of the same includes a bottom rail ofU-shaped cross sectional formation, upright rails 61 and 62 of U-shapedcross section, and a top rail 63 of U-shaped cross section. The channelsof these rails are adapted to receive suitable caulking or `sealingmaterial 64 for receiving therein the margins of the door plates 65which are preferably of glass, plastic or other material. The joiningends or edges 66 of the door rails are diagonally disposed and may besecured together by angle clamps 70 which are placed in the channels toreinforce and hold the rails together. The angles 70 are attached inplace by bolts or rivets 71.

Each of the closures C have exposed outer and inner surfacing and endupright surfacing which maybe decorated in any approved manner as byscarifying or undulant corrugations without providing gutters or groovesin which water or dirt will collect.

The top rail 63 of each closure C may be provided with upward extensionssecured therewith having rollers 76 rotatably mounted thereon adapted toride in the tracks 65 for the purpose of sliding the doors backward andforward. Any number of doors may be provided within the framework B butin the drawings only two of such doors are shown.

The guiding means D is small as compared to the length of the sills, andpreferably may be formed of synthetic resin such as nylon or Daeron orother material. It has narrow sockets in which the bottom rails 60 ofthe closures C slide back and forth. The sockets in length may vary,being in the nature of less than one inch compared to the long silllength.

Each guide member D preferably includes a base plate 80 having mountedthereon socket providing projections or walls 81 and 82 at the endsthereof and an intermediate wall 83. Thus, the extensions 81, 82 and 83provide two sockets 84 and `85. The base 80 generally slopes parallel tothe sloping angle of the sill 15. The intermediate portions 942iy of thesockets compensate for this slope by having their upper surfaces lyinghorizontally. Bolt openings 91 are provided in the bottom wall 80 ofeach guide adapted to receive bolts or screws 92 which may either onlysecure the guides in place or are adapted to receive screws by which thesill 15 may be attached to the foundation structure 39. The top surfacesof the bottom wall 80 slope downwardly from the surfaces 90 to the silledges to prevent trapping of fluids in the guides and to facilitatewiping of the same for cleaning and drying purposes. The inside facingsurfaces of the socket providing walls 81, S2 and 82 are divergentlysloped outwardly as an entrance guide for the doors C.

It will :be noted from FIG. 3 that each door C has a plurality ofprojections or walls 81, 82 and 83 for each of the guide means D. Theydenne trackways for the two doors. They also contact only the outersurfaces of the doors and each door at each side always has two of theprojections in guiding association therewith (see FIG. 3).

It will be noted from the foregoing that the inside surfacing of thejambs and sill of the frame B provide easily accessible and unobstructedsurfacing as do also the water shield flanges of the jamb and siderails. The doors C have no grooves or projections whatsoever for theentrapment of dirt and water. The header 18 protects the upper portionsof the closures C and houses the pulleys and trackways therein againstaccess of water thereto.

From the foregoing it can be seen that an improved gliding doorassemblage and enclosure for tubs and showers has been provided, theparts of which are arranged for natural gravity drainage of water backinto the tub or shower without entrapment; all parts 'being readily andeasily accessible, and all parts of the frame, doors and guides beingreadily detachable.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be madeto the forms of invention herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a sanitary closure assemblage for bathtubs and showers, aCombination of a frame including a sill having an uninterrupted uppersurface which slopes downwardly and inwardly, the outer margin of saidsill having an upstanding water shield flange, jambs secured at the endsof the sill, a header secured at the upper ends of said jambs, doorssuspended by said header, guide members mounted on the sill top surfaceat relatively spaced distances therealong, each guide member having abottom wall and upwardly projecting outer and intermediate ex= tensionsto define slide passageways for receiving the lower margins of saiddoors, the bottom wall top surface of each guide member in eachpassageway being horizontally transversely positioned and whichhorizontal top surfaces all lie in the same plane, said guide member'extensions at the facing surfaces thereof being bevelled so that theouter ends of said passageways are wider than the intermediate portionsthereof, the top surfaces of said bottom walls of the guide members alsosloping laterally in downward bevelled relation at each side of theirhorizontal surface, the bevels of the upward extensions deningpassageways facilitating door entrance and exit and said bevelsincluding the bevels of the bottom wall and the sloping surface of thesill permitting ready water drainage and easy access for cleaningpurposes.

2. In a sliding door construction for bathtubs and showers, thecombination of a `frame including an elongated sill provided with anuninterrupted top wall surface which transversely slopes inwardly anddownwardly, the outer longitudinal margin of the wall being providedwith an upwardly extending water shield flange and the top surface ofthe sill per se being otherwise free of upstanding anges; vertical jambssecured at the ends of the sill, a header secured at the upper ends ofthe jambs; a pair of slide doors suspended from the header which areeach shorter in width than the sill length so that the same may berelatively slid side by side on the sill to selectively open and closesaid doors, and guide members mounted on the sloping surface of the sillintermediate said jambs at selected spaced distances with respect toeach other, each guide member comprising a base wall and upstandingouter and inner and intermediate walls, said upstanding guide memberwalls being spaced with respect to each other so as to provide alignedside by side passageways defining door trackways receiving the lowermargins of said doors, said guide members each being relatively narrowlengthwise of the sill, the facing surfaces of said upstanding guidewalls being transversely bevelled so that the passageways thereof ateach end of the guide member are wider than the intermediate portions ofthe passageways, the bottom wall of each of said guide members at eachIpassageway having the upper surface bevelled in downwardly slopingrelation from the intermediate portion of each passageway to the ends ofthe passageways, the sloping wall of the sill and ybevels permittingready drainage of water.

3. In a sliding door construction for bathtubs and showers, thecombination of a frame, including an elongated sill having anuninterrupted top surface which transversely slopes inwardly anddownwardly, the outer longitudinal margin of the sill being providedwith an upwardly extending water shield flange; jambs secured at theends of the sill, a header secured at the upper ends of said jambs, apair of slide doors suspended by the header which in width are eachshorter than the sill length so that the same may be slid side by sideover the sill to selectively open or close said doors, and guide membersmounted on the sloping surface of the sill at selected spaced distanceswith respect to each other, each guide member comprising a base wall andupstanding outer and inner and intermediate walls, said upstanding wallsbeing spaced with respect to each other to provide side by sidepassageways dening slide trackways for receiving the lower margins ofsaid doors, said guide members each being relatively narrow lengthwiseof the sill, the facing surfaces of said upstanding guide walls beingtransversely bevelled so that the passageways thereof at each end of theguide member lare wider than the intermediate portions of thepassageways, the base wall of each of said guide member in eachpassageway having the top surface transversely horizontally disposed andwhich transverse surfaces lie in acute angular relation to the slopingtop surface of Said sill.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R.MOSELEY, Primary Examiner KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

1. IN A SANITARY CLOSURE ASSEMBLAGE FOR BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS, ACOMBINATION OF A FRAME INCLUDING A SILL HAVING AN UNINTERRUPTED UPPERSURFACE WHICH SLOPES DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY, THE OUTER MARGIN OF SAIDSILL HAVING AN UPSTANDING WATER SHIELD FLANGE, JAMBS SECURED AT THE ENDSOF THE SILL, A HEADER SECURED AT THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID JAMBS, DOORSSUSPENDED BY SAID HEADER, GUIDE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON THE SILL TOP SURFACEAT RELATIVELY SPACED DISTANCES THEREALONG, EACH GUIDE MEMBER HAVING ABOTTOM WALL AND UPWARDLY PROJECTING OUTER AND INTERMEDIATE EXTENSIONS TODEFINE SLIDE PASSAGEWAYS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER MARGINS OF SAID DOORS,THE BOTTOM WALL TOP SURFACE OF EACH GUIDE MEMBER IN EACH PASSAGEWAYBEING HORIZONTALLY TRANSVERSELY POSITIONED AND WHICH HORIZONTAL TOPSURFACES ALL LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, SAID GUIDE MEMBER EXTENSIONS AT THEFACING SURFACES THEREOF BEING BEVELLED SO THAT THE OUTER ENDS OF SAIDPASSAGEWAYS ARE WIDER THAN THE INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS THEREOF, THE TOPSURFACES OF SAID BOTTOM WALLS OF THE GUIDE MEMBERS ALSO SLOPINGLATERALLY IN DOWNWARD BEVELLED RELATION AT EACH SIDE OF THEIR HORIZONTALSURFACE, THE BEVELS OF THE UPWARD EXTENSIONS DEFINING PASSAGEWAYSFACILITATING DOOR ENTRANCE AND EXIT AND SAID BEVELS INCLUDING THE BEVELSOF THE BOTTOM WALL AND THE SLOPING SURFACE OF THE SILL PERMITTING READYWATER DRAINAGE AND EASY ACCESS FOR CLEANING PURPOSES.